College Relations
George Jacobson room dedicated
April 12, 2005
Contact: Jim Glynn at 978-542-7519 or email james.glynn@salemstate.edu
 SALEM - Attendees came from as far as Indiana to once again be part of a golf community built around the man they call "Jake."
 About 70 friends, relatives, co-workers and former players of retired golf coach George Jacobson, including Mike Chase '86 who traveled all the way from Schererville, Ind., crowded into the lobby of the O'Keefe Sports Complex Monday morning. They were there to honor a man who, from 1966 to 1996, coached the SSC golf team to national prominence.
"George is a truly good man," Salem State College President Nancy D. Harrington told the gathering. "I think that is evident by the turnout here today."
Following remarks by Vice President of Institutional Advancement Cynthia McGurren, President Harrington and Associate Professor Emeritus Richard Schneider, a plaque commemorating the golf practice room in Jacobson's name highlighted the event.
Under Jacobson, the Vikings made 20 straight appearances in the national Division III tournament. He was also the coordinator of the handicapped student program at the college, and he involved SSC athletes in fund-raising for the Jimmy Fund, the Lupus Foundation and the Boston Wheelchair Sports Organization.
In 1984, Jacobson launched the first wheelchair basketball exhibition at the O'Keefe Center, an inspirational annual event that continues to raise money and awareness of people with special needs. As a faculty member at the college, he was instrumental in developing the curriculum for the Sport, Fitness and Leisure program. He also developed the Special Needs in Physical Education course as well as a golf program for students with special needs. "His work on behalf of students with special needs is little known, but tremendously important," said Harrington.
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